Panin director questioned in a case of kidnapping

JAKARTA (JP): City Police questioned Panin Bank director Roestian Syamsuddin yesterday in connection with the bank's loan to Sulaiman Ramli, alias Han, who claims to have been kidnapped and beaten by a group of people believed to be debt collectors.

City police spokesman, Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko, confirmed that police have been investigating the case and have summoned certain people to be questioned.

He urged people to keep the presumption of innocence principle. So far, Roestian is being questioned as a witness, not as a suspect, he said, without giving details.

According to Han, his kidnapping is in connection with a 1990 Rp 3.6 billion (US$1.8 million) loan from Panin Bank.

Han alleges that in 1990 his acquaintance, Lay Mei Lin, proposed to obtain a loan from Panin Bank, where she worked. Because bank regulations do not allow an employee to apply for a loan, Mei Lin "borrowed" Han's name on the application form.

Under an agreement between the two, it was said that Han obtained a Rp 3.6 billion loan from Panin Bank. After receiving the money, Han gave it to Mei Lin, who then gave the money to her brother, with an agreement that her brother would repay the loan. Han claims that he has not spent any of the money himself.

Based on the loan agreement, Panin Bank has been asking Han to repay the loan. The bank knows nothing about agreements made between Han, Mei Lin and her brother.

Amir Syamsuddin, Roestian's lawyer, told reporters yesterday that, "Panin Bank knows nothing about other documents, except the loan agreement between Panin Bank, as creditor, and Han, as debtor."

Amir denied that Mei Lin was an officer of Panin Bank. "Mei Lin was not a Panin Bank officer or bank customer," he said.

Amir also denied that Panin Bank is involved in the kidnapping and beating of Han.

Police have also summoned Panin Bank's chief commissioner, Mukmin Ali, who is scheduled to come to city police headquarters tomorrow. (29)